The NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA) awarded a multinational framework contract to RTX for Laser Guidance kits. This capability will enhance the precision and effectiveness of air missions across the Alliance. The contract was awarded through the Ammunition Support Partnership, established in 1993 and comprising of 28 member nations. The partnership facilitates the collective procurement and management of ammunition, ensuring member nations can invest in advanced weapon systems and expand their munitions inventories. By aggregating requirements through multinational contracts, NSPA offers turnkey solutions that enable member nations to get access to the resources they need to maintain readiness and operational effectiveness. Multiple Ammunition Support Partnership member nations leverage this mechanism to procure Precision Guided Munitions (PGMs) to invest in new weapon systems and build up inventory. The aggregation of requirements offer flexibility and economies of scale and fits in the mindset of “fly as you train, train as you fight”.
The award of this contract to Raytheon Missile & Defense is a strategic step forward in support of NATO’s collective defence capabilities. Through the multi-national, multi-year procurement framework of these advanced guidance kits, NSPA will ensure that our member nations have the capabilities required to enhance the precision and effectiveness of NATO air missions, reinforcing NATO’s deterrence and defense posture,”Ms Stacy Cummings, NSPA General Manager said
“Contracts like these demonstrate the value of procuring systems at scale. By aggregating demand across the alliance, we can ensure our forces have the equipment they need at the cost and volume necessary to stay ahead of the threat,” Mr Phil Jasper, President Raytheon said.
Through its Ammunition Support Partnership (ASP), NSPA consolidates multinational ammunition procurement to ensure the ASP Nations have access to a reliable, cost-effective, and secure supply of ammunition in the land, air, maritime and dismounted soldiers domains. By coordinating procurement efforts, the ASP is able to negotiate better prices and multi-national multi-year contract terms with ammunition suppliers. This not only helps to reduce costs for ASP Nations, but also ensures that NATO forces have assured access to the ammunition they need to carry out their missions. This collaborative approach not only strengthens individual national capabilities but also enhances the overall operational effectiveness of NATO forces. This contract is therefore a significant contribution to the NATO Defence Production Action Plan (DPAP), underscoring NATO’s commitment to maintaining a robust and responsive defense capability.
Pave (Precision Avionics Vectoring Equipment, Precision Acquisition Vehicle Entry) is sometimes used as an acronym for precision avionics vectoring equipment; literally, electronics for controlling the speed and direction of aircraft. Laser guidance is a form of Pave. Pave, paired with other words, is the first name for various laser systems that designate targets for LGBs, for example Pave Penny, Pave Spike, Pave Tack and Pave Knife, and for specialized military aircraft, such as AC-130U Pave Spectre, MH-53 Pave Low, and HH-60 Pave Hawk. Lockheed Martin and Raytheon compete to supply LGBs to the United States Air Force, and others. Raytheon claimed the exclusive right to use Paveway™ as a trademark for selling LGB-related products. Lockheed Martin claimed Paveway is a generic term in the defense industry. In September, 2014 Lockheed Martin agreed that Raytheon is the exclusive owner of “Paveway™” for laser-guided bombs and related goods and services and that “Paveway” is a protectable trademark, but that Raytheon will license the mark to Lockheed for use in connection with single-mode laser-guided bomb kits. The two companies compete each year for U.S. and foreign orders.
